Book Review: Baby Laughs: The Naked Truth About the First Year of Mommyhood by Jenny McCarthy

Summary: 
Jenny McCarthy's hilarious, no-holds-barred personality has made her an instantly recognizable TV personality and a bestselling author. In Baby Laughs she examines the full range of challenges that new mothers face, including: The humiliations of postnatal "numbing spray," Tucks medicated pads, and adult diapers; jelly belly, balding, and gum disease; and becoming a "five-foot puke rag" for the baby; Heart-stopping terrors, such as baby manicures, breathing checks, and burp failures; Inadequacies, such as lullaby illiteracy and the need for a "heavy rotation" of toys, videos, and mobiles; Daddy antics, such as infant wrestling, home-movie mania, sleeping like a log, and expecting sex; Dueling grandmas, germ-ridden guests, Olympic-class competitive mommies, anorexic pets; and much more. Mothers and fathers will find much-needed relief and insight in this sometimes touching, sometimes gritty, but always perceptive and outrageously funny account of what it truly means to have your very own small bundle of joy. 

Review:
I loved McCarthy's pregnancy book: Belly Laughs, so I was really looking forward to reading about her first year of motherhood.  Baby Laughs didn't have as many laugh-out-loud moments for me as Belly Laughs did, but I still really enjoyed it.

Two weeks after finishing Baby Laughs, I find myself quoting sections of it to my mom or husband, and saying things like, "it took Jenny McCarthy one year to lose her baby weight, so I shouldn't expect to lose mine in the first two months," and "Jenny McCarthy cut the tips of her baby's fingers when she cut his nails, just like I did." 

I think it's neat to know that a celebrity feels the same way I do about things.  McCarthy's honesty and tell-it-like-it-is writing style are refreshing.  Baby Laughs is set up exactly like Belly Laughs: each chapter chronicles her experience with a different challenge. 

I'm glad I waited until after I had my baby to read this book: I definitely enjoyed it more than I would have had I read it before she was born.  I would recommend this fast, fun read to all parents.







2 comments:

  1. Oh this sounds fun.

    Great review.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is a fun read. She's hilarious. And like you, I like knowing celebrities feel about normal every day to day stuff :)

    ReplyDelete

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